Portable fire pit system

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a portable fire pit to be used in conjunction with particularly sized fuel blocks, whereby these fuel blocks are manually positioned in a square-shaped configuration around ventilation holds provided through the base of the fire pit. Alignment flanges on the base provide a positioning and alignment brace structure for the fuel blocks, which are fitted into an abutting relationship with the alignment flanges and one another on the base. The ventilation holes are formed to align with an inner chimney formed by the positioning of the fuel blocks. This chimney is formed over the ventilation holes to allow the fire to burn from the chimney outwardly through the blocks and thereby provide an efficient burning of the fuel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/437,064, filed Jan. 28, 2011, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to fire pits. More particularly,the present invention relates to an outdoor backyard fire pit configuredto receive fuel blocks having a particular shape. Specifically, thepresent invention relates to such a fire pit which is configured toreceive and hold fuel blocks in a desired placement around a ventopening to allow an efficient burning of the fuel.

2. Background Information

The general concept of a fire pit can physically vary from a pit duginto the ground to an elaborate gas burning compilation of stone, brick,and metal. The common feature of fire pits is that they are designed tocontain a fire and prevent it from spreading. Pre-made fire pits are themost common form of fire pits and typically mass-produced and purchasedfrom a store. These are made mostly of metal and can be either wood orgas burning. Unlike traditional fire pits, these fire pits are portableand may contain a screen or cover to prevent cinders or floating ashfrom escaping and starting a fire outside the pit.

Heretofore, wood burning manufactured fire pits have all suffered fromthe same inefficiencies. Namely, the placement of wood or fuel istypically haphazard and therefore the space inside the fire pit is notfully utilized, and the fuel itself burns inefficiency. Furthermore,many fire pits do not include ventilation beyond a simple bowl-likestructure which only allows air to be supplied from above the fire.Therefore, there is a great need in the art not only to use theavailable pit space more efficiently, but to burn the fuel moreefficiently as well.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a fire pit to be used in conjunction withparticularly sized fuel blocks, and align these fuel blocks in asquare-shaped configuration around ventilation holes provided throughthe base of the fire pit. The base is formed from a plate having aplurality of alignment flanges extending upwardly therefrom. Thealignment flanges provide a positioning and alignment brace for the fuelblocks, which are fitted into an abutting relationship with thealignment flanges and one another while on the plate. After the firstlayer of fuel blocks is formed, multiple horizontal layers of fuelblocks may be disposed on one another to provide a sufficient verticallength of fuel for a fire. It is a primary feature of the invention thatthe ventilation holes are disposed generally in the center of the baseand align with an inner chimney or air shaft formed by the positioningof the fuel blocks. This chimney or air shaft is formed by the fuelblocks over the ventilation holes to allow the fire to burn from thechimney outwardly through the blocks and thereby provide an efficientburning of the fuel.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode inwhich Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth inthe following description and is shown in the drawings and isparticularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention showing the lidattached to the fire pit;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the base of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded view of the base and a first layer of fuel blocks;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 4, showing a second layerof fuel blocks and whereby the first layer of fuel blocks are disposedon the base;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a side elevational view of the present invention showing thehook device and the elongated nut secured thereto;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the fire pit having the grill disposedthereon;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view similar to FIG. 10; and

FIG. 11 is a top plan view similar to FIG. 10 and showing the grillpositioned over the base in solid and outwardly from the base inphantom.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The portable fire pit system of the present invention is shown in FIGS.1-11 and is indicated generally at 1. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, firepit system 1 includes a fire pit 2 which extends generally from an upperend 3 to a lower end 5 and includes a lid 7, a spark guard 9, and a base11. Lid 7 includes a wire mesh portion 13 which defines a plurality ofopenings 14 and extends from an annular ring 15. Annular ring 15 issized to removably and snuggly fit around an annular ring 17 having aslightly smaller diameter and disposed on spark guard 9. Spark guard 9further includes a wire mesh portion 19 extending from annular ring 17to a lower end 21, and is formed in a generally cylindrical overallshape. Wire mesh portion 19 defines a plurality of openings 20 forallowing air to pass therethrough and to prevent cinders or floating ashfrom escaping and starting a fire outside the pit.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, base 11 includes a plate 23 having an uppersurface 22, a lower surface 24 (FIG. 7), an annular ring 25 extendingoutwardly from upper surface 22 and around the periphery of plate 23.Base 11 further includes a pit area 18 defined by upper surface 22 andannular ring 25, and plurality of legs 27, shown as three legs 27,extending outwardly from lower surface 24 and in the opposite directionfrom annular ring 25. A plurality of air flow apertures 29 are definedby plate 23 and disposed generally proximate the diametrical center ofplate 23.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a plurality of alignment flanges 31 extendoutwardly and generally perpendicularly from upper surface 22. Flanges31 are arranged to define a generally square-shaped (FIG. 3) fuelcontainment area 33 within pit area 18 and having apertures 29 disposedproximate the center of the square. Each flange 31 is a straight, flat,rectangular-shaped fin-like structure which includes an inner surface35, whereby each inner surface 35 faces towards apertures 29. As shownin FIGS. 4 and 5, flanges 31 are sized and positioned to align aplurality of fuel blocks 37 in a particular horizontal and verticalalignment around apertures 29, thereby defining an air shaft or chimney39 extending from apertures 29 through fuel blocks 37. Commonatmospheric air is intended to flow up through apertures 29, throughchimney 39, and outwardly away from the top layer of blocks 37. Thus, afire 41 (FIG. 7) ignited inside chimney 39 will burn through fuel blocks37 efficiently from chimney 39 outwardly through blocks 37, due to theproper airflow ensured by apertures 29 and chimney 39.

Fuel blocks 37 may be comprised of any ignitable substance commonly usedwith fire pits, including highly compacted sawdust, which may be free ofchemical binders or other additives. As shown in FIG. 4, fuel blocks 37are formed in a hexahedron or cuboid shape with six generally flat sideswhich extend generally at 90 degree angles to one another to form ablock shape. Each fuel block 37 includes a generally similar length Land a generally similar width W. As discussed above, four fuel blocks 37are arranged around apertures 29 disposed in plate 23 to form chimney39. The block-like nature of fuel blocks 37 facilitate such aconfiguration, and further allow stacking of multiple layers of blocks.

With primary reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the positioning and relativeplacement of blocks 37 is described in greater detail, with specificreference to blocks 37A and 37B. Each block 37 includes a top side 70, abottom side 72, a right side 74, a left side 76, a rear side 78, and afront side 80, corresponding to the six sides of the hexahedron shape ofblocks 37. Right side 74 and left side 76 are of length L, while frontside 80 and rear side 78 are of width W. Top sides 70 and bottom sides72 extend generally horizontally when properly positioned in fire pit 2,and right side 74, left side 76, rear side 78, and front side 80 extendgenerally vertically. To achieve the specific configuration of blocks 37which forms chimney 39 around apertures 29, each of the four blocks 37are placed on base 11 whereby bottom side 72 is adjacent upper surface22, such that right side 74 of each block 37 abuts a correspondingalignment flange 31, and each rear side 78 abuts another correspondingalignment flange 31. This braces and holds blocks 37 in place on two ofthe four vertically extending sides. The other two vertically extendingsides are braced and held by positioning front side 80 of each block 37such that front side 80 abuts left side 76 of an adjacent block 37,thereby bracing the other two of the four vertically extending sides. Asshown in FIG. 4, front side 80 of block 37B abuts left side 76 of block37A. It will be readily understood from the above description and withreference to FIG. 5 that inasmuch as five of the six sides of blocks 37are firmly abutting adjacent elements, blocks 37 are firmly positionedand held in place on plate 23. Once positioned in this manner, blocks 37may generally only be moved in the vertically upward direction. As such,blocks 37 are firmly secured in a “puzzle-like” configuration whichdefines chimney 39 over apertures 29. As shown in FIG. 4, in order toachieve this specific configuration and alignment of fuel blocks 37 onplate 23, each parallel alignment flange 31 is spaced a distance Xapart, where X is generally equal to length L plus width W of fuelblocks 37. Thus, each parallel alignment flange 31 can receive thelength L of a fuel block 37 and the width W of a fuel block 37therebetween.

As shown in FIG. 5, a first layer 38 is formed and disposed directly onplate 23 and thereafter a second layer 40 is formed and disposeddirectly on first layer 38. Top sides 70 of blocks 37 in first layer 38abut bottom sides 72 of block 37 in second layer 40. As shown in FIG. 6,first layer 38 and second layer 40 are formed in a generalcross-sectional square shape with a void in the center of the squarewhich allows air to flow through apertures 29. This allows an efficientstacking of fuel with no wasted space disposed therein, which fullyutilizes fuel containment area 33. As such, air flows upwards throughplate 23 and through chimney 39 formed by fuel blocks 37, therebyproviding a long, even output of heat energy as fire 41 burns fromchimney 39 outward through fuel blocks 37 and towards flanges 31. As aresult of the efficient burning of fuel blocks 37, the overall size ofportable fire pit 2 may be dramatically reduced, as less fuel is neededto produce generally the same amount of heat energy as a traditionalfire pit. This reduction in the overall size of fire pit 2 allows forthe reduction in material costs and shipping costs, and allows forincreased portability of the device.

As shown in FIGS. 5-7, flanges 31 are arranged to align first layer 38of fuel blocks 37 around apertures 29. Each side of the square is bracedby flanges 31, which are disposed in pairs around the periphery of thesquare. As shown particularly in FIG. 7, flanges 31 extend generally ata 90 degree angle with respect to upper surface 22 of plate 23, therebyforming a complementary structure to receive the 90 degree angled sidesof fuel blocks 37 therein.

In addition to aligning fuel blocks 37, flanges 31 further providebracing support to each fuel block 37 disposed in first layer 38. Asfuel blocks 37 in first layer 38 burn, the material breaks down and mayshift without proper support. Inasmuch as first layer 38 provides a baseupon which to build second layer 40, if first layer 38 shifts or moves,second layer 40 may collapse and thereby close off or partially blockchimney 39. Therefore, even as fuel blocks 37 in first layer 38 burn,blocks 37 maintain their position due to flanges 31. Furthermore, fuelblocks 37 are reinforced and braced by one another, as each block 37abuts two other blocks 37, as can be seen in FIG. 5. The abuttingrelationships between adjacent blocks 37, as well as the abuttingrelationships between blocks 37 and alignment flanges 31 thereby ensurechimney 39 remains intact throughout the burning process. As such, it isone of the primary features of the invention that each fuel block 37 isabutting or adjacent to at least one flange 31, and each fuel block 37is vertically abutting or adjacent to two other fuel blocks 37.

As shown in FIG. 8, fire pit 2 may also include a hook device 59engagable with an elongated nut 65 as a means for locking lid 7 andspark guard 9 to base 11. Hook device 59 includes a hooked end 61 and aspaced apart threaded end 63, with a shaft 60 extending therebetween.Hooked end 61 is formed to engage openings 14 of wire mesh portion 13 oflid 7 whereby shaft 60 is positioned to extend towards base 11. Threadedend 63 of hook device 59 thereby extends through one of apertures 29 andoutwardly from lower surface 24 of plate 23. Elongated nut 65 includesan opening 67 defined by a threaded surface 69 configured to engagethreaded end 63 and hold it securely therein. Elongated nut 65 is formedin a slightly concaved shape extending from a first end 71 to a secondend 73, whereby opening 67 is defined proximate first end 71. As shownin FIG. 8, when first end 71 is secured to hook device 59, second end 73is thereby positioned to press against lower surface 24 of plate 23,which braces hook device 59 and in turn holds lid 7 and spark guard 9securely to base 11. As elongated nut 65 is turned in the direction ofArrow C, threaded surface 69 guides nut 65 along shaft 60, which drawssecond end 73 closer to lower surface 24. Once nut 65 is sufficientlythreaded upwards on shaft 60, second end 73 firmly abuts lower surface24 and holds hook device 59 in position. To remove elongated nut 65, auser simply turns nut 65 in the direction of Arrow B to unscrew nut 65off shaft 60 and thereby release hook device 59. When elongated nut 65is released from threaded end 63, hook device 59 may thereby be removedfrom engagement with openings 14 of wire mesh portion 13 of lid 7.

Inasmuch as fire 41 burns directly under lid 7 during use of portablefire pit system 1, lid 7 may become extremely hot and untouchable to theuser. However, as fuel blocks 37 burn away and need replaced or moved, auser may wish to access pit area 18. Therefore it is desirable to removelid 7, yet lid 7 may be extremely hot. In addition to locking lid 7 onbase 11, hook device 59 may be also used to remove lid 7 from sparkguard 9 when the user wishes to manipulate fuel blocks 37. Hook end 61of hook device 59 is extended into one of openings 14 of wire meshportion 13 and used as a gaff to pull lid 7 off of spark guard 9. Theuser holds generally the area around threaded end 63 of hook device 59,which allows the shaft 60 and hook end 61 to move close to the flames offire 41 during removal of lid 7, while keeping the user's hand a safedistance away from the heat.

As shown in FIG. 10, fire pit 2 may also include a grill system 42,which includes a positioning rod 45 and a grill 49. Positioning rod 45is a rod shaped cylindrical beam which extends from an upper end 46 to aspaced apart lower end 47. Grill 49 includes a screen 51 disposed on anarm 53, whereby the arm extends from a connection bracket 55 having arod aperture 57. Grill system 42 further includes a peg 43 disposed onbase 11 and extending outwardly away from upper surface 22 of plate 23.Peg 43 is sized to be received in an opening (not shown) disposedproximate lower end 47 of positioning rod 45. An upper end 46 ofpositioning rod 45 is sized to be received in rod aperture 57 of bracket55, whereby screen 51 is positioned at a particular level above plate 23extending generally parallel with upper surface 22 of plate 23. Bracket55 is shown frictionally engaging positioning rod 45 by way of rodaperture 57 to maintain the desired distance between plate 23 and screen51. However, the present invention encompasses any means common in theart which may be used to engage grill 49 with rod 45.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, grill 49 is pivotable about positioning rod45 by way of connection bracket 55. Grill 49 maintains the same generalplane during this pivoting operation. Grill 49 is movable within thisplane to selectively expose food (not shown) placed on screen 51 to fire41 as well as remove it as desired.

As shown in FIG. 11, grill 49 is movable between a first position, shownin solid lines, and a second position, shown in phantom. As positioningrod 45 has a generally circular cross-sectional shape, grill 49 maypivot in the direction of Arrows D or E to move grill between the firstand second position, and any intermediate position therebetween anddesired. In addition to the pivotable nature of grill 49, as theconnection between rod aperture 57 of connection bracket 55 andpositioning rod 45 is a simple frictional engagement, grill 49 may beplaced at any horizontal position along rod 45 as desired by the user.This allows the user more control over how much heat from fire 41reaches food placed on screen 51. Therefore, as discussed above, grillsystem 42 is adjustable in both the horizontal and vertical directionsto provide the user maximum control over the cooking operation.

In operation, a user typically transports or stores fire pit system 1 ina locked state, whereby lid 7 is locked to base 11 by way of hook device59. Hook end 61 of hook device 59 extends through one opening 14 of wiremesh portion 13 with shaft 60 extending through another opening 14 anddownwardly through one aperture 29 of plate 23, thereby locking hook end61 onto wire mesh portion 13.

Located proximate threaded end 63, elongated nut 65 is removed bymanually unscrewing elongated nut 65 in the direction of Arrow B (FIG.8). After elongated nut 65 is removed from threaded end 63, the usersimply removes hook device 59 from fire pit 2 thereby releasing lid 7from base 11. The user then manually removes lid 7 which exposes pitarea 18 and fuel containment area 33. The fuel blocks 37 may betransported inside fire pit 2 for convenience. The user places fuelblocks 37 within fuel containment area 33 in an abutting relationshipwith at least one alignment flange 31 as well as two vertically adjacentfuel blocks 37, as shown in FIG. 5, to form a generally square-shapedcross sectional configuration. First layer 38 is disposed on uppersurface 22 of plate 23 and thereafter second layer 40 is disposed on topside 70 of each block 37 in first layer 38, thus defining chimney 39therein (FIG. 6). As shown particularly in FIG. 7, fire 41 is formed bythe user within chimney 39 and efficiently supplied with commonatmospheric air through apertures 29, whereby air enters chimney 39through apertures 29 in the direction of Arrow A. Thus, fire 41 burnsefficiently from chimney 39 outwardly through fuel blocks 37 in thedirection of alignment flanges 31. As such, the entirety of fuel blocks37 is consumed by fire 41.

After fire 41 is burning within chimney 39, a user may wish to removelid 7 from annular ring 17 of spark guard 9, or alternatively, a usermay wish to place lid 7 on annular ring 17. However, due to fire 41burning and releasing heat upwardly from pit 18, the area where lid 7resides on annular ring 17 as well as lid 7 itself may be extremely hot.Therefore, hook device 59 may be used to remove lid 7.

Hook end 61 is extended into lid 7 through openings 14 of wire meshportion 13 to hook lid 7 thereby allowing the user to remove lid 7without physically touching the hot portion.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 9-11, while lid 7 is removed from base11, a user may wish to use grill system 42 to grill various food items.As such, lower end 47 of positioning rod 45 is lowered into the innerarea of spark guard 9 towards base 11 and connected therewith throughpeg 43. Grill 49 is then connected with upper end 46 of positioning rod45 through rod aperture 57 of connection bracket 55 disposed on grill49. As shown in FIG. 11, a user may then swing grill 49 outwardly awayfrom spark guard 9 to place the food items onto grill 49 without the hotflames of fire 41 burning underneath. After food is placed thereon,grill 49 is then rotated in the direction of Arrows D or E to disposethe food and grill 49 over flames of fire 41. It will be readilyunderstood that heat from fire 41 cooks the various food items disposedon grill 49. When the food is sufficiently cooked, grill 49 is thenrotated in the direction of Arrows D or E to remove food from flames offire 41. Thus, an efficient and safe method for cooking food is providedby portable fire pit system 1.

It will be understood that any of the foregoing steps may be amended,reversed or rearranged to allow a user to utilize all of the features ofportable fire pit 1 as desired.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

1. A portable fire pit system comprising: a plurality of fuel blocks,each having a length and a width; and a portable fire pit having a platewith a central area, a plurality of legs extending downwardly from theplate, a first alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate, and asecond alignment flange extending upwardly from the plate.
 2. Theportable fire pit system of claim 1, wherein the first alignment flangeextends generally parallel to the second alignment flange.
 3. Theportable fire pit system of claim 2, wherein the first alignment flangeis spaced generally at a distance from the second alignment flange, andwherein the distance is generally equal to the length plus the width. 4.The portable fire pit system of claim 3, wherein the plate includes aplurality of ventilation apertures disposed generally intermediate thefirst alignment flange and the second alignment flange.
 5. The portablefire pit system of claim 4, further comprising a third alignment flangeextending upwardly from the plate and a fourth alignment flangeextending upwardly from the plate, wherein the third alignment flangeextends generally parallel to the fourth alignment flange, and whereinthe third alignment flange extends generally orthogonally to the firstalignment flange.
 6. The portable fire pit system of claim 5, whereinthe third alignment flange is spaced at the distance from the fourthalignment flange.
 7. The portable fire pit system of claim 6, whereinthe plurality of fuel blocks are comprised of compressed sawdust.
 8. Aportable fire pit system comprising: a plurality of hexahedron shapedfuel blocks; a base having a plate with a general central area, aplurality of legs extending downwardly from the plate, and a pluralityof alignment flanges extending upwardly from the plate and spaced apartfrom the central area for abutment with at least one of the plurality offuel blocks; a spark guard having a plurality of openings disposedtherein and configured to engage with the base; a lid having a pluralityof openings disposed therein and formed to cover a portion of the sparkguard; and a plurality of ventilation apertures defined by the plate inthe central area.
 9. The portable fire pit of claim 8, furthercomprising a hook device configured to removably secure the lid, sparkguard, and base together.
 10. The portable fire pit of claim 8, whereinthe plurality of alignment flanges define a fuel containment area forreceiving the plurality of fuel blocks therein.
 11. The portable firepit of claim 10, wherein the plurality of fuel blocks define an airshaft therebetween when the plurality of fuel blocks are received in thefuel containment area.
 12. The portable fire pit of claim 11 wherein theair shaft is aligned with the plurality of ventilation apertures toenable air flow through the chimney.
 13. The portable fire pit of claim12, wherein the alignment flanges are fin shaped.
 14. The portable firepit of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of alignment flangesextends at a 90 degree angle from the plate.
 15. The portable fire pitof claim 14, further comprising: a peg extending from the plate; apositioning rod having a first end engageable with the peg and a secondend; and a grill engageable with the second end of the positioning rodfor positioning the grill over the plate.
 16. A method for burning aplurality of fuel blocks comprising the steps of: forming each of theplurality of fuel blocks to be generally similar in size having asimilar length and a similar width; arranging the plurality of blocks ona raised plate, wherein the blocks are arranged to define an air shafttherebetween; igniting at least one of the plurality of blocks in anarea adjacent to the air shaft; and allowing air to flow through theplate and through the air shaft to supply air to the ignited area. 17.The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of: forming each ofthe plurality of fuel blocks to include an end surface and a sidesurface; and arranging the plurality of fuel blocks in a series, wherebythe side surface of each of the plurality of fuel blocks abuts the endsurface of each successive one of the plurality of fuel blocks.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, wherein the air shaft is defined by a portion ofeach of the side surfaces of the plurality of fuel blocks.
 19. Themethod of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: disposing a firstset of alignment flanges on the plate, wherein each alignment flange inthe first set is located a distance apart, and wherein the distance isgenerally equal to the length plus the width; and disposing a second setof alignment flanges on the plate, wherein each alignment flange in thesecond set is located the distance apart.
 20. The method of claim 19,further comprising the step of compressing an amount of sawdust to formeach of the plurality of fuel blocks.